EXCURSION XV. 191 



on the east side, shew felstones as the prevailing rock on 

 the west side from Glen Rie upwards the prevailing rock is 

 greenstone. At Glen Rie mill the sandstone is greatly dis- 

 turbed and altered by a prismatic compact felspar, with bits 

 of quartz and rarely felspar, which forms a bed in the sand- 

 stone. We might return from Lag this way to Lamlash, 

 and trace the carboniferous strata across the watershed of 

 the Ross. We might pass also up the banks of the Torlin, 

 and trace out a wondrous variety of curious relations among 

 the traps and felstones which abound there, visit a Stone 

 Circle not far from Urie Loch, examine the syenites and 

 pitchstone which break out on Urie Hill, and then pass down 

 to Whiting Bay or Lamlash. An account of the rocks to be 

 seen on both these routes would lead to great detail, and 

 imply much repetition; but the walk of ten or eleven miles 

 will be found very instructive. 



On a bank near the sea, within the first field east of the 

 mouth of Torlin Water, there is a fine specimen of the 

 sepulchral cairn. It consists of a great number of stone 

 chambers, formed by five large slabs, said to be filled with 

 human bones. One only has been opened, and from it 

 certainly bones and a skull were removed. The lid of the 

 stone cist or chamber still lies near; an upright stone pro- 

 bably marks the head. It was once surrounded by a wall ; 

 but though now unprotected it will not be further disturbed 

 without express authority. Nothing is known regarding its 

 history. A little to the west of the mouth of the Slaodridh, 

 on a high, steep mound near the shore at Haddock Port, 

 there are the remains of a fort called Tor-chastel, or the 

 castle hill. It is connected to the mainland behind by a 

 narrow neck, which is guarded by an outwork with a stone 

 foundation. On the top there is the circular foundation of 

 a Danish fort, consisting of a wall of large stones without 

 cement, five feet thick, and having a circuit of about fifty- 

 two yards. It was doubtless made strong to defend this 

 place of landing for enemies from Cantire, Haddock Port 



